Topic Areas: Economic Vitality

Description: How can your organization best position your commercial district program to catalyze the local economy? Let us show you the way! Join Advanced Principles of Economic Vitality for the key tools to strengthen and diversify the local economic base. 

Learning Objectives:

• Engage and work with existing stakeholders to lay strong foundations for economic vitality.
• Develop business retention, expansion and succession initiatives throughout the district.
• Identify opportunities for strategic use of space for business and real estate development.

Topic Areas: Promotion

Description: Effective downtown promotions are much more than memorable events. Commercial district revitalization professionals need an ever-growing toolbox of marketing solutions. In Advanced Principles of Effective Promotion, gain the strategic insights to position your commercial district as the center of community activity, culture, and local commerce. 

Learning Objective:

• Identify and package the district’s unique position in the marketplace.
• Market your district’s assets and engage the community as stakeholders in your brand.
• Understand and communicate the role of events and their impact in revitalization.

Topic Areas: Leadership

Description: Effective leaders demonstrate a great ability to influence people towards a common goal. For commercial district revitalization professionals, this means bringing diverse stakeholders together in the pursuit of community transformation. Elevate your focus and skill set as a revitalization leader through Advanced Principles of Leadership Development.

Learning Objective:

• Understand the distinction between leadership and management and their important application in community-driven revitalization.
• Recognize the value of strategy and your role in defining strategic direction for your organization.
• Integrate strategy in your organizational structure to leverage resources, including people and build proactive partnerships to achieve measurable results.

Topic Areas: Design

Description: Engaging, effective design improves the district’s physical elements while preserving unique character and enhances a sense of place for all those who live, work, or visit.

Learning Objectives:

• The role and value of design and historic preservation in commercial district revitalization.
• Best practices in planning and enhancing the look and feel of the district.
• Assembling resources and innovative incentives to support your efforts.

Topic Area: Organization

Description: Building a healthy organizational foundation is key to attracting engagement and investment for your commercial district revitalization efforts. Whether you are positioned in a long-standing program or starting anew, Advanced Principles of Sustainable Organization will give you tools in key areas to strengthen your organization.

Learning Objectives:

• Define and share your organization’s message with key stakeholder to expand your reach.
• Foster active community engagement through a solid volunteer development program.
• Understand how to develop a diverse funding structure and alignment of resources.